Chapter 7: A new counsellor in making

                                    

                                          
Will followed the possible path taken by Micheal and eventually found the way back to the camp lake on whose shore he sat, back facing to Will. A gentle summer breeze blew.
Judging from the slight shaking it was clearly evident that he was sobbing. A rare sight to most given how short tempered and brash he appeared as usually.
Will plopped down next to Micheal. Intially none side talked then Micheal sighed his looked up his blue eyes still brimming with tears as be scowled. "I know you came to console me but it's fine and under control. That bitch can't get to me."
"It is not?" said Will. "Then why are you crying?"
"Just dust,"said Micheal wiping his blue eyes in haste scowling.
Will raised an eyebrow, his voice soft but steady. "Dust, huh?" He let a small smirk form, clearly not buying it but choosing not to push too hard. "You know, dust doesn't usually stick around this long."
Michael clenched his jaw, avoiding Will's gaze. His fists were balled tightly on his lap, and after a moment, he gave a frustrated sigh. "It's just... she had no right to say that," he muttered, his voice cracking slightly despite his best effort to keep it steady. " Clarisse doesn't know a damn thing about what it's like."
Will nodded, keeping his voice gentle. "No, she doesn't. But I do. And I know it eats at you, Michael. But not being able to protect someone doesn't make you weak."
Michael's expression flickered, a mixture of anger and pain breaking through. "If I was stronger then, she would still have here alive. That day still haunts me. I was chased by a wild empousai while returning from school. I thought I could evade it by coming home but it still followed me. My mom locked me in my room and went to fend it off herself. She was a martial arts teacher. She didn't make it." His voice trailed off, but the words hung heavily in the air.
Will put a hand on his shoulder. "You were a kid, Michael. And you're stronger than you know. We all see it, even if you don't."
Michael finally met Will's gaze, his own hard expression softening just a bit. "I don't... I don't know if I can keep carrying that," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper.
"Then don't," said Will. "I know that you keep saying crying won't help demigods, but it's only natural instinct when the pain is too much. I know you're the strongest warrior of Cabin 7. You literally have the record of firing five arrows at once, and you even figured out how to combine sonication with it. But you don't have to pretend to be the perfect, brash leader at all times... at least not in front of me, big brother."
At that moment, Michael's eyes widened. Suddenly, he lurched forward, surprising Will, and pulled him into a hug, breaking down.
Will rubbed Michael's back, much like Michael used to do for him. For once, if someone walked in on them, it would feel like they were playing sibling roles matching their statures.
"You really have turned into a master of words for your age, Will, you rascal," Michael said, finally calming a bit.
"Well, the words kinda helped you lighten your heavy heart," Will smirked.
"And that is your power," Michael said as they parted.
"What?"
Michael sighed. "Don't tell me you forgot the talk last night about demigod duty and power. I've watched your expression enough to know how low you think of yourself for not having any of Apollo's 'cooler' powers. But you do have one of them."
"Wait, what do you mean?" cried Will, confused. "I didn't know that."
Michael pointed at Will's forehead. "It's in there. Your optimistic mind, the way you drive yourself to help heal broken hearts with words thar come from your genuine feelings. Not everyone can do that. As cringe as it may might sound coming from me, you're like the first spring sun that dispels the last traces of a dark winter."